as in homage
a show of respect or acknowledgement of the authority or importance of another
They made obeisance before the king and queen. She earned herself some political enemies when she failed to make the proper obeisance to those in power.
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Recent Examples of obeisance
After a decade of seemingly supine obeisance, there is no obvious reason why the military leadership would suddenly rouse itself to oppose Xi.
—
Jonathan A. Czin, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2025
Visitors who fail to perform the requisite display of obeisance have faced consequences, as in the Feb. 28 blowup with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
—Massimo Calabresi, Time, 24 July 2025
But Zuckerberg isn’t the only one paying abject obeisance to the president.
—Max Taves, Mercury News, 11 July 2025
In the first case, Obama was accused of showing obeisance to a foreign ruler and Islam.
—Brendan Cole
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for obeisance
Jonathan A. Czin, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2025
Visitors who fail to perform the requisite display of obeisance have faced consequences, as in the Feb. 28 blowup with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
—Massimo Calabresi, Time, 24 July 2025
But Zuckerberg isn’t the only one paying abject obeisance to the president.
—Max Taves, Mercury News, 11 July 2025
In the first case, Obama was accused of showing obeisance to a foreign ruler and Islam.
—Brendan Cole
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for obeisance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obeisance
Noun
-
Without going into true spoilers, a big moment for Maki, a Kill Bill homage, excellent fight scenes and more.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The whole place is a homage to repose and tranquility—like a retreat, but for people who also love a good cocktail at lunchtime.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Keane loved Polinsky’s insistence on inclusiveness, respect for the governor down to the most obscure staffer, and zero tolerance for those disrespectful to rank-and-file workers.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
26 Jan. 2026
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More effective diplomacy, as demonstrated by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron at the same forum, conveys the same message about resisting bullying through measured language that preserves dignity and institutional respect.—
George Skelton,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The salute will take place March 12 (three days before the Academy Awards) at the Ebell theater in Los Angeles, where the Oscar Wilde Awards will celebrate its 20th anniversary.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Jan. 2026
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His military salute to the flag during the national anthem got the attention of viewers who wondered whether presidents are supposed to do that.—
Matt Leclercq,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
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What started as a cute nod to the city’s name has grown into an extravagant, on-brand season of celebrating this little holiday.—
Mindy Sink,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The spot, directed by I, Tonya filmmaker Craig Gillespie, is a cheeky nod to Brody’s reputation for gravitating toward dramatic, taxing roles.—
Olivia Singh,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
No jacked-up, galloping warriors wielding bow and arrow.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The platform heels feature a slingback and peep-toe design with a large bow on the upper.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Grief is difficult, as is hawk training, and Lowthorpe’s film treats both with proper reverence.—
Adam Graham,
Boston Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
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Crucially, the police don’t receive this reverence.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But for Coles, his indoctrination to law enforcement has been a different level of submissiveness.—
Dan Pompei,
New York Times,
2 Dec. 2025
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In Killers of the Flower Moon, his Ernest Burkhart starts off as a mopey, weak-minded World War One veteran, eager to do anything for his godfather uncle (Robert De Niro), but there’s still a certain likability to his dim-bulb submissiveness.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obeisance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obeisance. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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